One-piece paper container



W. E. AMBERG ET AL ONE-PIECE PAPER CONTAINER March 6, 1956 Filed July15. 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet l /15 L15 il e719 j/ghef/Z///fze; 15g; i

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March 6, 1956 w. E. AMBERG ET AL 2,737,332

ONE-PIECE PAPER CONTAINER 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 15, 195] i3jflaamwa March 6, 1956 w. E. AMBERG ET Al. 2,737,332

ONE-PIECE PAPER CONTAINER Filed July 13, 195] 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTORS March 6, 1956 w. E. AMBERG ET AL 2,737,332

ONE-PIECE PAPER CONTAINER Filed July 15, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 k1 N I NV EN TORS h Zdaf/Me/jg March 6, 1956 w. E. AMBER@ ET AL ONE-PIECE PAPERCONTAINER 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 13 1951 INVENToRs Q Ma/7j j? MaigMarch 6, 1956 l w. AMBERG ETAL Y 2,737,332

ONE-PIECE PAPER CONTAINER 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 1s, 1951INVENTOILS,

March 6, 1956 w. E. AMBERG ET AL 2,737,332

ONE-PIECE PAPER CONTAINER 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed July 13, 1951 March 6,1956 w. E. AMBERG ET A1.

ONE-PIECE PAPER CONTAINER 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed July 13, 1951 INVENTOJ,M

C? er March 6, 1956` w. E. AMBERG ET AL 2,737,332

ONE-PIECE PAPER CONTAINER Filed July 13, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 1N V ENTOR5,

Jp/M/@MMW United States Patent f ONE-PIECE PAPER CONTAINER WalterAmberg,'Chicago, and Stephen W. Amberg,

Barrington, Ill., assigriors to Lily-Tulip Cup Corporation,acorporatiouof--Delaware This 'invention relates to one piece papercontainers and the Vmethod and apparatus for making the same.

An object 'of this invention is to provide an improved one pieceApaper'container having a side Wall, preferably smooth, and a'substantially radially pleated transverse bottom Wall provided with acentral solid paper button. The pleated Apaper "and the 'central solidpaper button of the vtransverse bottom wall makethe same extremelystrong and durable. lf desired,fthe central button .may be utilized inspacing apart nested containers so that they may be readily removedfroma stack of such nested containers. The smooth side wall may be of anydesired shape, such as, for example, Cylindrical, frustoconical or thelike. Likewise, the pleated transverse bottom wall may also have anydesired shape, as for example, to :form a substantially flat bottomedpaper container or to form a substantially rounded bottom papercontainer.

The improved one piece paper containers of this invention have a Widevariety of uses. For example, they may be used for packaging almostanything, including solids, liquids, foodstuis and the like, Vthey maybe used as self-standing flat bottom containers, tubs, cups and thelike, or they may be used as rounded bottom cups or the like to besupported by suitable holders.

Briefly, the one piece paper containers of 'this invention are formedfrom a'paper side wall open atits Vtop and bottom. Thebottom vportion ofthe'paper side Wall isisubstantially radially gathered into anoutwardlyv projecting ycentral pillar Iof closely `gathered longitudinalpleats and the paper between the si'de Wall and lthe central pillar ofgathered paper is substantially radially pleated. The radially pleatedpaper is then compressed into the transverse bottom wall and the centralpillar of closely gathered paper is closely conned. The closely confinedcentral pillar of gathered paper is then compressed into a central solidpaper button of a 'transverse dimensionsubstantially vthe same as thato'f the pillar, and in so doing the longitudinal pleats of 'the centralpillar are collapsed into overlapping and interlocking transversepleats.

The open ended side Wall, from which the one .piece paper container ismade, may be of any desired shape, such as cylindrical, frusto-conicalor the like, depending upon the desired ultimate shape of the container.The open ended side Wall may be formed 'from a paper blank which may berolled and secured Vinto vthe desired side wall shape. For example, in'the case lof a ,frusto-conical side Wall the paper blank may have aconvex curved edge on on side and a concave curvededge on an oppositeside, the curved edges having the same radius of curvature so that theblanks may be cut from a paper sheet with minimum Waste. The center ofcurvature of the convex curved edge is located outside of the paperblank beyond the concave curvededge and lthe convex curved edge formsthe larger circular top edge of lthe truste-conical side wall. Such ablank, which forms an open ended truste-conical side Wall',

2,737,332 -Patented Mar. 6, 1956 Z saves considerable l.paper over ablank which would be utilized 'for-forming a complete Yconical side wallor container. A 4 l p Thefsubstat'ially.radial gathering of the bottomportion `cif the -jpaper .side Wall into the `central ypillar ofm'closely fg'atheredp'aper fand the formation of the substantiallyradial pleats r between the -smooth side wall and the central `pillarof.gathered paper isV preferably accomplished bly exerting substantiallyradial pressure against the perimeter of thebottomtportion of Vthepaperside "Wall and 'rog'r'essive'lyl .reducing vitsperimeter yuntil the'ple'ating 'and L'theicentral.pillar of closely .gathered paper areforined. The cross sectional areav of this "central pillar of lcloselyngathered .paper is substantially equal to the 'crossse'cptionlarea ofthe paper in the side Wall which is 'gathered into the central pillar,the paper being 'closely 'gathered 4at lthis stage lbut not crushed Aorupset. This r'neth'od, f forming 'the .pleats and the .centralpillar ofclosely gathered .paper is simple torper- "form, places minimum Ystressand strain upon the .paper and reduces 'r'up'tring and 4tearing of the.paper to va minimum. A K

This method may be inexpensively and rapidly performed 'o'n'a'rlieicialbasislby an -apparatus including ajm'ale die member forsupporting the open ended paper side Wall With the bottom 'portionthereof extending vvbeyoncl "the e'nd othe male die member along with agathering die ehaving ja vp'll'revil'ity of radially moveableoverlapping plates. The male die member and the gathering die are movedtowardyeach other to position the gatheringvdie 'adjacent 'the end ofthe male kdie member and about theiextendin'g bottomportionv of vthepaper 4side l"wa'lLU The plates of the gathering die are then movedradially inwardly y'to gather the extending bottom 'portion ,'of thelpaper side 'wall into the central pillar `of `closelyg'ath'er'ed paperand topleat substantially radially the paper betwe'eh the side Wall andthe central pillar l of gathered paper..

Thereafter "the substant y radially vpleated paper is compressed 1vii'tovthe ft'r'ns ur's'ev bottom wall and the central pillar of osely'gathe'red 4paper lis closely con- Llined. The transverse ,b'tttoh Wallmaybe formed `into any 'desired shape, as, for example, substantiallyfilat'or substantially rundedit may be provided with an outvva-rdlyp'e'iign lai-"recess or oisetbend adjacent the `:central 'pillar "ofgathered k'paper for receiving `the button in countersunkreltitm it maybe provided with an Afann'u'larwrib at the juncture of the side wall andbottom Wall, or nit 'may be provided with Aany other desiredcross,'sec'ti'onal configuration. The annular recesses l"and ribscooperate With the substantially -radially pleated paper of l'the'trnsve'se bottom Wall to form an extremely strong and durablecontainer. The central annular reee'ss also may operate at leastpartially to recess the central solid paper button formed from Vthecentral pillar of gathered paper Yand vin the case of a 'substantiallyflat bottomed container the annular rib may alsoft'orm an annularsurface for supporting the container-in an upright pennen.

Ilhe compressing of th'efplea'te'd paper into the transverse bot/toniWall 'is .preferably accomplished by conning yand compressing r`the samebetween a pair ot suitable die members, one of the die members having acentral opening of 'a diameter substantially equal to the diameter ofthefcentra'l pillar of gathered paper for accommodating and. closelyconfining the same. The die members are shaped to provide thedesired'conguration vto the transverse bottom wall of the container andincluding, if desired, recesses and projections for forming the annularrecesses and ribs in the bottomV wall 'of the' containers. The'diejjn''rnhei's areu moved toward each other for' 'confining 'ii'd'ccnnpre'ssng the pleated paper therebetween to form the transversebottom 'wall of the container.

While the central pillar of closely gathered paper is closely confined,and preferably while the transverse bottom wall is also confined, thecentral pillar of closely gathered paper is longitudinally compressedand upset into a solid paper button of a transverse dimensionsubstantially the same as that of the pillar. Compressing and upsettingthe central pillar of gathered and longitudinally pleated paper while itis closely confined forms a solid paper button which is substantiallyuniform throughout, which has overlapping and interlocking transversepleats and which effectively seals the bottom of the container. If thecentral pillar of gathered paper were not closely confined during thecompressing and upsetting operation, it would tend to topple to one sideor the other and to spread, tear or open up with the result that thebutton would not be uniform throughout, would be deteriorated or rottedin parts by excessive compression, would not be properly compressed andupset in other parts and would undoubtedly leak in use. By confining thepleated paper of the transverse bottom wall while the central pillar ofgathered paper is being compressed and upset into the central solidpaper button, shifting and possible resulting tearing of the pleatedpaper during the compressing and upsetting operation is entirelyeliminated.

This method of forming the transverse bottom wall and the central solidpaper button may also be inexpensively and rapidly performed on acommercial basis by an apparatus including a first die member having acentral opening of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of thecentral pillar of gathered paper for receiving and circumferentiallyclosely confining the same and having a face for engaging the side ofthe pleated paper having the pillar projecting therefrom, and a seconddie member having a face for engaging the other side of the pleatedpaper. Means are provided for moving the die members toward each otherfor clamping the pleated paper therebetween and compressing the sameinto the transverse bottom wall. A plunger is -slidable in the openingin the first die member and means are provided for moving the plungertoward the second die member, while the pleated paper is clamped betweenthe die members, longitudinally to compress and upset the central pillarof closely gathered paper into the solid paper button of a diametersubstantially the same as the diameter of the pillar. The face of thefirst die member may have an annular projection about its opening andthe face of the second die member may have a central recess for formingthe central annular recess about the central solid paper button.Likewise, the face or" the first die member may have an annular recessat its periphery and the second die member may have an annularprojection at its periphery for forming the annular rib at the junctureof the bottom wall and the side wall of the container. These annularrecesses and projections on the die members also act firmly to hold thepleated paper of the transverse bottom wall while the central solidpaper button is being formed.

Other objects of this invention reside in the details of constructionand in the configurations of the improved paper containers of thisinvention and also in the shape or configuration of the paper blanksutilized in forming the paper containers of this invention.

A further object of this invention resides in the method of forming thepaper containers of this invention includlngthe method of forming a sidewall into a paper form having a central pillar of closely gathered paperand substantially radial pleats between the side wall and the centralpillar, and also in the method of forming such a paper form into a onepiece paper container having a side wall and a transverse bottom wallmerging with the side wall and including substantially radial pleatsterminating in a central solid paper button.

Another object of this invention resides in the apparatus for formingthe paper containers of this invention including the apparatus forforming a side wall into a paper form having a central pillar of closelygathered paper and substantially radial pleats between the side wall andthe central pillar, and also in the apparatus for forming such a paperform into a one piece paper container having a side wall and atransverse bottom wall merging with the side wall and includingsubstantial radial pleats terminating in a central solid paper button.Separate apparatuses may be used for making in stages the one piecepaper containers of this invention or a single apparatus may be usedvfor making the same in a single stage.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon reference to' the accompanyingspecifi-cation, claims and drawings, in which: i

Figs. 1 to 4 illustrate one form of the one piece paper container ofthis invention; for example, a substantially :dat bottom nestablecontainer, such as a self-standing tub, cup, or the like, Fig. 1 being atop perspective view, Fig. 2 a bottom perspective view, Fig. 3 a sideelevational view and Fig. 4 a vertical sectional view of the container;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View partly in section of a plurality ofthe containers of Fig. 1 nested in a stack;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view illustrating the manner inwhich the paper containers of Fig. 1 are held separated when in a nestedstack;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a paper blank from which the one piece papercontainer of Fig. 1 is formed;

Figs. 8 to 11 are perspective views illustrating the manner in which thepaper blank of Fig. 7 is formed into the one piece paper container ofFig. 1, Fig. 8 illustrating the formation of the open ended side wallfrom the paper blank of Fig. 7, Fig. 9 illustrating the formation of thecentral pillar of closely gathered paper and the partial formation ofthe bottom wall from the open ended side wall of Fig. 8, Fig. 10illustrating the completed formation of the, transverse pleated bottomincluding the central annular recess and outer annular rib and Fig. 11illustrating the manner of forming the central solid button from thecentral pillar of closely gathered paper;

Figs. 12 to 2O illustrate an apparatus for forming the one piece papercontainer of Fig. 1 from a side wall having open ends, Figs. 12 to 18being vertical sectional views through the apparatus in variouspositions of operation and Figs. 19 and 2O being horizontal sectionalviews taken substantially along the lines 19-19 and Ztl-20 of Figs. 13and 14, respectively. Fig. 12 illustrates the apparatus at the beginningof the forming operation. Figs. 13 and 19 illustrate the position of theapparatus just prior to the formation of the central pillar of closelygathered paper.

Figs. 14, 20 and 15 illustrate the positions of the ap-v paratus,respectively, at and after the formation of the central pillar ofclosely gathered paper. Fig. 16 illustrates the position of theapparatus for completing the formation of the transverse bottom wall.Fig. 17 illustrates the position of the apparatus for forming thecentral solid paper button. Fig. 18 illustrates the position of theapparatus at the conclusion of the forming operation;

Figs. 21 to 24 illustrate another form of the one piece paper containerof this invention, for example, a relatively wide angled paper cuphaving a relatively large substantially rounded transverse bottom foruse with a suitable holder. Such a one piece paper container isparticularly adaptable for use as a coffee cup or the like. Fig. 21 is aside perspective view, Fig. 22 a top perspective view, Fig. 23 a bottomperspective view and Fig. 24 a vertical sectional view through the onepiece paper container;

Fig. 25 is an enlarged sectional view through the bottom of the onepiece paper container of Figs. 21 to 23;

Fig. 26 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the manner in whichthe one piece paper container of Figs. 21 to 24 is supported by asuitable holder;

Fig. 27 is a plan view of a paper blank which is used in the formationof the pne piece paper container of Figs. 21 to 24;

, 'i5 Figs. 28 ,to 31 are views illustrating the manner of forniing'thepaper blank of Fig. 27 intothe paper container of Figs. 2l to 24, Fig.28 illustrating the open ended side wall formed'from the blank of Fig.27, Fig. 29 illustrating the manner of forming ythe central pillar ofclosely gatheredpaper, Fig. 30 illustrating the manner of forming thevtransverse bottom wall and Fig. 31 illustrating the manner of formingthe central solid paper button; Figs. 32 to 35 `illustrate still anotherform of the one piece paper container of vthis invention, for example, arelatively narrow angled container having a relatively smallsubstantially rounded transverse bottom Wall, particularly adaptable foruse as a cup in which drinks may be mixed and served. This papercontainer is adapted to Vbe supported by a suitable holder. Fig. 32 is aside perspective View, Fig. 33 a top perspective View, Fig. 34 a bottomperspective view and Fig. 35 an enlarged vertical sectional view of thisone piece paper container;

Fig. 36 is an enlarged perspective view of the transverse bottom wall ofthe one piece paper container illustrated in Figs. 32 to 35;

',Fig. 37 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the onepiece p aper container of Figs. 32 to 3-5 maybe supported in a suitableholder;

Fig. 38 is a plan view of ra paper blank utilized in the formation-ofthe one piece paper container of Figs. 32 to 35; and t Figs. 39 to 42are views illustrating the manner inwhich the paper blank of Fig. 38 isformedinto the paper container of Figs. 32 to 35, Fig. 39 illustratingthe open ended side wall formed from the paper blank of Fig. 38, Fig. 40illustrating the manner of formation of the central pillar of closelygathered paper, Fig. 4l illustrating the manner of forming thetransverse bottom wall and Fig. 42 illustrating the manner of formingthe central solid paper button.

One form of the one piece paper container of this invention is generallydesignated at in Figs. l to 6. It is a substantially flat bottomnestable type paper container having a smooth frusto-conical paper sidewall 11 merging with a pleated transverse bottom wall 12. The pleats inthe bottom wall 12 are substantially radially arranged and terminate-inwardly in a central solid paper button 13. An outwardly openingannular recess or channel or Vreversible bend 14 is arranged about thecentral solid paper button 13 so that at least a kportion of the solidpaper button 13 is located within the annular'recess 14 in countersunkposition. The juncture of the smooth paper side wall 11 and the pleatedbottom wall 12, that is where these two walls merge together, isprovided with an annular rib v15. The substantially radial pleats in thebottom wall 12 yreinforce the bottom Wall and form an extremely strongand durable container and the annular recess or channel 14 and theannular rib 15 also cooperate with these substantially radial pleatstoward this end. The annular rib 15 also forms an annular surface orridge for supporting the container 10 in an upright position. The top ormouth of the container 10 is provided with a suitable rim 16 formed byrolling the upper edge of the side wall 11 for the purpose of finishingand adding rigidity .to the top of the container. The side wall 11 mayalso be provided with an annular groove 17 for receiving a suitable lid,not shown, for closing the container and maintaining the contentstherein.

The one piece paper container 10 has a Wide variety of uses, forexample, it may be used for packaging almost anything, including solids,liquids, foodstuffs and the like. yIt is a self-standing orself-supporting substantially flat bottom container and may be made invarious sizes for use as tubs, cups and like containers. The papercontainer 10, herein specifically illustrated, has a frusto-conical sidewall 11 so that a plurality of such paper containers may be nested onewithin the other, as illustrated in Fig. 5. 4In this respect the'central solid `paper button 13 of each paper container is :ofsuch athickness that the vside vwalls temi-mae l1-of the nested `containersare spacedsli'gh'tly `apart -Wh'ere tby the :paper container may vv"belreadily removed from :a stack of such nested containers. In thisconnect-ion,fFigs. 5 and -6 illustrate the manner in lwhich :these nonepiece ypaper containers are nested'in this fashion.

The papercontainer '10 of Figs. 1 .to 6 may be formed from a paper blank20, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The paper blank 20 has a pair of Vstraightlp'arallel edges 21 and 22,a convex curved edge -23 :and a concavecurved edge v24, the vradii of curvature o-f fthe curved edges l23 and24 being the same. The `radius of curvature of the convex Vcurved edge23 is :designated by'the broken line 25 and the center of the radius ofcurvature vis located on 'an :extension of the center line indicated inbroken lines at 26. The center of the curvature of the :convex curvededge is located outside of the paper b'lank20 and beyond the concaveCurved 'edge '24. The-'radius of curvature lof the concave curved edge24 is Yindicated by the bro-ken line 27 and herealso the centerof theradius of curvature is located on an extension of the centerline 26.lThus lthe vpaper blank 20 is symmetrical about its' center line 26 and aplurality of such ypaper blanks 20 may be cut from a strip of paperhaving side edges `21 and 22 without any waste. The convex curved edge23'of'the paper 'blank 2t) forms the larger circular top edge of the onepiece paper container 10 and at least a portion of the concave curvededge 24 forms the bottom edge of a side wall when the blank is formedinto an open `ended frustoconical side wall. The portion of the paperblank 20 vbetween the dotted lines 28 and 29 forms the side wall 11 ofthe pleated paper container `10 and the lower portion 30 of the paperblank 20 is formed into the pleated bottom andthe central solid paperbutton of the completed paper container 10. The extreme top :portion ofthe-paper blank 20 `between the convex edge 2.3 and the dotted line 29is utilized in the formation of vthe rolled rim k16 in the -ultimatepaper container 10. 'The paper blank 20 is provided with a glue :pattern31 so that when the -paper blank `2t) is formed into an open endedfrusto-conical side wall, `generally designated at 33 in Fig. 8, it ismaintained in that condition. As vwill be seen in Fig. `8, the convexedge 23forms the larger top edge of the open ended frustoconical paperside wall 33 and at least a portion of the concave curved edge 24 formsthesmaller bottom edge thereof. The lower .portion of the frusto-conicalpaper -side wall 33 is designated also at 30 in Fig. 8.

Referring now to Figs. 8 tand 9, the bottom portion 30 ofthe paper sidewall 33 is substantially-radially gathered into `an outwardlylprojecting central pillar 35 'of closely gathered and longitudinallyvpleated paper, and the paper Vbetween the central pillar 35 and theside Wall 11 is substantially radially pleated by this gatheringoperation. This gathering of the bottom portion 30 of the side Wall -ispreferably accomplished `by exerting substantially radial pressureagainst the perimeter of the bottom portion 30 of the paperside Wall andprogressively reducing its perimeter until the pleating and the centralpillar 35 of closely gathered paper are formed, as illustrated in Fig.9. It will be noted that the bottom edge 24 of the frusto-conical sideWall 33 appears at the end of the central pillar 35 of closely gatheredpaper, the paper in the central pillar being substantiallylongitudinally folded and creased, but not crushed or upset. This pillar35 of closely gathered paper has a cross-sectional area substantiallythe same as the cross-sectional area of the paper in the lower portion30 of the open ended side wall 33.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and 10, the radially pleated paper between thesmooth side wall 11 and the central pillar 35 of closely gathered paperis then compressed into the bottom wall 12 and in this operation thebottom wall 12 is also provided with the outwardly opening centralannular recess or channel or reverse bend 14 and the outer annular rib15. This vformation of the bottom wall 12, the annular recess 14 'andthe annular rib c15'may 'be accomplished by confining the substantiallyradially pleated paper and compressing the same between suitable diemembers.

In forming the central solid paper button 13, as illustrated in Fig. ll,the central pillar 35 of closely gathered paper, as illustrated in Fig.l0, is rst circumferentially closely coniined and then the centralpillar 35 is longitudinally compressed and upset into the solid centralpaper button 13 which has a transverse dimension substantially the sameas that of the pillar 35. By closely confining the central pillar 35 ot'gathered paper while it is being longitudinally compressed and upset, itforms a solid paper button 13 which is substantially uniform throughout,which has overlapping and interlocking transverse pleats and whicheffectively seals the bottom of the container 10. If the central pillarof gathered paper were not closely coniined during the compressing andupsetting operation it would tend to topple to one side or the other andto spread, tear or open up with the result that the paper button wouldnot be uniform throughout, would be deteriorated or rotted in parts byexcessive compression, would not be properly compressed and upset inother parts and would undoubtedly leak in use. Also, it is preferable toconne the pleated paper of the transverse bottom wall 12 while thecentral pillar 35 of gathered paper is being compressed and upset intothe central solid paper button 13. This prevents shifting and possibleresulting tearing of the pleated paper during the compressing andupsetting operation. The central pillar 35 of gathered paper may beclosely confined by enclosing the same in a die member opening having adiameter substantially the same as the diameter of the central pillar35. The diameter of the opening in the die member should be as close aspossible to the diameter of the central pillar 35 for maximum control ofthe paper therein during the compressing and upsetting operation, butyet be large enough freely to receive the central pillar 35 and allowfor possible production variations in the pillar diameter. As a specilicillustrative example, a central pillar 35 of gathered paper having adesigned diameter of one-quarter of an inch may be readily received in adie opening having a diameter of ve-sixteenths of an inch. This permitsready reception of the central pillar in the die opening, closelyconfines and provides fine control of the gathered paper during thecompressing and upsetting operation and produces a uniform central solidpaper button having a diameter of ve-sixteenths of an inch,substantially the same as the diameter of the pillar. For best resultsthe diameter of the central pillar should not be less than seventy-fiveper cent of the diameter of the die opening and still moreadvantageously eighty or eighty-live percent.

After the transverse bottom wall of the paper container 10 is formed, asillustrated in Fig. l1, then the upper part of the smooth paper sideWall 11 may be provided with the rim 16 and the annular groove 17 in theconventional manner.

Briey, therefore, the method of forming the one piece paper container16, as illustrated in Figs. 7 to ll, consists in forming a paper sidewall 33 opened at its top and bottom, substantially radially gatheringthe bottom portion of the paper side wall into an outwardly projectingcentral pillar 35 of closely gathered and longitudinally pleated paperand substantially radially pleating the paper between the side wall 11and the central pillar 35 of gathered paper, compressing thesubstantially radially pleated paper into the transverse bottom wall 12,annular recess 14 and annular rib 15, circumferentially closelyconfining the central pillar 35 of gathered paper, and longitudinallycompressing and upsetting the closely confined central pillar 35 ofgathered paper into the central solid paper button 13 having overlappingand interlocking transverse pleats and having a transverse dimensionsubstantially the same as that of the pillar 35.

This method of forming the one piece paper container may beinexpensively and rapidly performed on a commercial basis by a suitableapparatus, for example, the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 12 to 20.This apparatus includes a male die member 37 having a frusto-conicalsurface for receiving and supporting the side wall 11 of the open endedpaper side wall 33 with the lower portion 30 of the paper side wallextending beyond the face 33 of the die member 37, as illustrated inFig. l2. The face 38 may be provided with a central recess 39 and anannular peripheral projection 40. A female die member 41 having acylindrical extension 43 is provided with a gripping member 44 having anannular frusto-conical surface 45 which is adapted to engage the sidewall portion 11 of the frusto-conical side wall 33 to hold the male diemember 37. The cylindrical extension 43 of the female die member 41 issuitably operated to form means to move the female die member 41 towardthe male die member 37 from the position shown in Fig. 12 to theposition shown in Fig. 13 whereby the frusto-conical side wall 33 issecurely held in place on the male die member 37.

The female die member 41 is also a gathering die and, as illustratedmore particularly in Figs. l2, 18, 19 and 20, is provided with aplurality of radially disposed slots. Two sets of opposite slots 46receive a plurality of radially slidable plates 47, these slots 46extending through the die member 41 from the outer edge thereof to acentral opening 42 therein. A second set of oppositely disposed slots 48slidably receive a plurality of plates 49, these slots being oliset fromthe slots 46 and being angularly disposed with respect to the slots 46.Likewise, other oppositely disposed sets of slots 50 slidably receive aplurality of radially slidable plates 51, these slots 50 being offsetfrom the slots 46 and 4S and being angularly disposed with respect tothose slots. The outer ends of the plates 47, 49 and 51 are eachprovided with an angularly arranged slot 52 which in turn receive pins53 carried by a flange 54 of a rotatable actuating member 55 suitablyoperated through a limited rotative movement. The actuating member 55 inits limited rotative movement forms operating means simultaneously tomove the plates 47, 49 and 51 radially inwardly and outwardly in theirrespective slots in the gathering die 41. When the pins 53 are in theposition illustrated in Fig, 19 the plates 47, 49 and 51 are retractedand when the pins 53 are revolved to the position illustrated in Fig. 20the plates 47, 49 and 51 are radially moved inwardly. These radiallymovable plates 47, 49 and 51 of the gathering die operate when movedinwardly substantially radially to gather the bottom portion 30 of thepaper side wall into the central pillar 35 of closely gathered andlongitudinally pleated paper and substantially radially to pleat thepaper between the side wall portion 11 and the central pillar 35 ofgathered paper, as is illustrated in more detail in Figs. 13 to 15, 19and 20.

The cylindrical extension 43 of the female die member 41 is providedwith a cylindrical opening 58 for slidably receiving a die member 59which in turn has a central opening 60 which opening is of substantiallythe same diameter as the central pillar 35 of closely gathered paper.The die member 59 is provided with a face 61, a central annularprojection 62 about the opening 60 and an annular peripheral recess 39and the annular projection 40 of the die member 37. The die member 59has a suitable extension, not shown, forming means for slidablyoperating the same in the cylindrical extension 43.

After the central piller 35 of closely gathered paper is formed by theradial die and the radial fingers have been retracted, as illustrated inFig. l5, the die member 59 is then moved toward the die member 37, asillustrated in Fig. 16. The faces 38 and 61 of the die members 37 and 59coniine and compress the pleated paper into the bottom wall 12 of thepaper container, the central recess 39 and the central annularprojection 62 of the die members form the annular recess orreverse bend14 in the pleated paper bottom wall 12 and the annular projection 40 andthe annular recess 63 of the die members form the annular rib 1S at thejuncture of the smooth side wall 11 and the pleated bottom Wall 12 oftte paper container. At the same time the opening 60 in the die member59 circumferentially closely confines the central pillar 35 of closelygathered paper, as is illustrated in Fig. 16.

A plunger 65 is slidably received in the opening 60 in the die member 59and it is provided with a face 66. An extension, not shown, on theplunger 65 forms means for advancing and retracting the same. When theplunger 65 is advanced, as illustrated in Fig. 17, the closely confinedcentral pillar 35 of gathered and longitudinally pleated paper islongitudinally compressed and upset between the face 66 of the plungerand the face 39 of the die memH ber 37 into the central solid paperbutton 13 having overlapping and interlocking transverse pleats. Whilethe central solid paper button 13 is thus being formed, the die members37 and 59 are clamping the transverse bottom wallof the paper containerto prevent sliding and possible rupture of the paper' therein. The diemembers 37, 41 and 59, the plates 47, 49 and 51. and the plunger 65 areall operated in timed relation by a suitable power driven mechanism.

The sequence of operation of the apparatus is shown in Figs. l2 to 18.In Fig. 12 the frusto-conical paper side wall is `placed upon-the diemember 37, then the die member il is moved toward the die member 37, asillustrated in Fig. 13, to secure the paper side Wall in placetherebetween with the lower portion 30 of the paper side wall extendingbeyond the die member 37. The plates 47, 49 and 51 are then movedradially inwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 14, to form the central pillar35 of closely gathered paper and radially to pleat the paper between thecentral pillar 35 and the smooth side wall 11. Thereafter the plates 47,49 and 51 are retracted, as illustrated in Fig. 15, and then the diemember 59 is advanced toward the die member 37, as illustrated in Fig.16, to form the bottom wall 12, the annular recess 14 and the annularrib 15 and also closely to confine the central pillar 35 of gatheredpaper. Then the plunger 65 is advanced longitudinally to compress andupset the central pillar 35 of gathered paper into the central solidpaper button 13, as illustrated in Fig. 17. The transverse bottom wall,including the solid .paper button, is thereby formed and then the diemembers are retracted tothe position illustrated in Fig. 18 for removalof the completed one `piece paper container and to place the apparatusyin ,condition for another cycleof operation.

While .one apparatus has been illustrated for performing all of theoperations upon the open ended side wall or body, -of course, theseoperations may be performed in stages by separate apparatuses, forexample, one apparatus not including the die member 59 and plunger 65lmay be utilized for forming the central pillar 35 of Vgathered paperand another apparatus not including the radial die may be utilized forcompressing the transverse bottom wall 12 and for forming the centralsolid paper button 13 from the central pillar 35 of gathered paper.While the apparatus has been illustrated in Figs. 12 to 20 for forming,the particular ypaper container 10 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, thissame apparatus with minor modifications may be utilized for formingpaper containers of other sizes and conigurations, as for example, thepaper .containers generally designated at 79 in Figs. 21 -to 25-and at100 in Figs. 32 kto 3.6.

The o ne .piece paper container generally designated at 70 vin Figs. 21Vto 24 is a nestable type container particularly adaptable for use as acoffee cup or the like. It has a relatively wide angled smoothfrusto-conical side wall 71 and a substantially rounded transversepleated bottom wall 72 of relatively large diameter. T hepleated bottomwall is provided with a central solid paper button 73 and may beprovided with an annular recess 74 andan annular rib 75. The upper-edgeofthe paper .container 70 may be provided with a suitable rim 76. Thus10 it is seen that the paper container 70 is very much. like the papercontainer '10 except as to specific configuration or shape.

This paper container 70, having a substantially rounded transversebottom wall, maybe supported by a suitable holder generally designatedat 78. This 'holder may include a receptacle portion 79 secured to abase portion 80 as by means of screw threads 8,1. Located in the holderadjacent the juncture of the receptacle and base portions 79 and 80 is aresilient washer S2 having fingers to grip the side wall 71 of the papercontainer or cup 70 for automatically lifting a cup "lil from a stack ofnested cups and for maintaining the cup vwithin the holder.

The substantially rounded bottom wall of the cup'or container 70 beingpleated and provided with the solid paper button 73, the annular recess'74 and the annular rib 75 is extremely strong andV durable and .holdsits shape when the cup is filled with coffee or'the like. The

substantially rounded bottom provides for efficient mixing of thecontents within the cupV and because of the construction of the roundedbottom, is not distorted or ruptured in the event that the bottom isforcibly contacted by a spoon or the like.

The method of making the paper container or cup 70 of Figs. 21 to 25 issubstantially the same as that described above in connection with thepaper container 10, Being of a different configuration, the paper blankfor making the paper container 70 is preferably different from the paperblank Vfor making the paper container 1t). Fig. 27 illustrates the paperblank from which the paper container 70 is formed. Here the paper blank'85 is provided with a straight side edge 86, a convex curved edge 87and a concave curved edge 88, the radii of curvature of the curved edgesbeing the same and the centers of curvature being struck from anextension of the center line designated at 90. The radius of curvatureof the convex curved edge 87 is indicated by the broken line 89 and theradius of curvature of the concave curved edge is indicated by thebroken line 91. The center of the radius of curvature of the convexcurved edge 87 lies beyond the concave curved edge B. The convexcurvededge 87 forms the upper edge of the cornpleted paper container. When thepaper blank is formed into a frusto-conical side wall, generallydesignated at 9,5 in Fig. 28, both ends of the frusto-conical side wallare open, as shown, a part of the concave curved edge 88 o f the blankforming the bottom edge of the frustoconical side wall 95. This isbrought about by reason of the fact that the center of curvature of theconvex curved edge 87 lies beyond the blank 85. Because the method offorming the transverse bottom wall on the paper container of thisinvention permits the use of an open ended paper side wall there is aconsiderable saving in paper afforded over a paper container or sidewall which is pointed or closed at its bottom. The amount of paper savedis that amount between the concave curved edge 88 and the curved brokenline 92 in Fig. 27. To maintain the frusto-conical paper side wall 95 inplace the paper blank is provided with a suitable glue pattern 93. t

After the frusto-conical paper side wall is so formed, then the lowerportion thereof is substantially radially gathered into lan outwardlyprojecting central pillar 97 of closely gathered and longitudinallypleated paper as shown in Fig. 29, the paper between the smooth sidewail 71 and the central pillar 97 being substantially radially pleated.

Then, as illustrated in Fig. 30, the substantially radially pleatedpaper is compressed into the pleated transverse bottom wall 72, and theoutwardly `facing annular recess or reverse bend 74 and the annular rib75 are formed therein. The central pillar v97 Aof closely gathered andlongitudinally pleated paper is then closely confined and islongitudinally compressed and upset into the central solid paper button'73 having overlapping and interlocking transverse pleats, asillustrated in Fig. 3l.

Figs. 32 to 36 illustrate another form of a paper container which isgenerally designated at llilti. This paper container is particularlyadaptable for use at soda fountains for mixing and serving drinks. Ithas a relatively narrow angled truste-conical side wall 1631 and asubstantially rounded pleated bottom 102 centrally provided with a solidpaper button 103. Here the paper button may also be at least partiallyreceived in an annular recess 104. The top of the paper container or cup100 may be provided with a suitable rim 1955.

This paper cup or container 100 may be supported in a suitable holdergenerally designated at 107 in Fig. 37. The holder includes a baseportion 1% and a receptacle portion 109, the receptacle portion beingprovided with an internal ange 116 for receiving a resilient member 111having lingers 112. The lingers 112 are adapted to grip the side wall101 of a paper container 100 for automaticallyY lifting the same from astack of nested containers and to maintain the container or cup in theholder.

The method of forming the paper container lill? is substantially thesame as that described above in connection with containers and 70.However, due to the difference in conguration of the paper container 10ba different shaped paper blank is preferably used. Such a paper blank isdesignated at 115 in Fig. 38.

The pape-r blank 115 has a straight edge 116, a convex curved edge 117and a concave curved edge 118, the radii of curvature 119 and 121 of thetwo curved edges being the same. The centers of the radii of curvatureare located on the center line 12d and the center of curvature of theconvex curved edge 117 is Ilocated beyond the blank 115. The paper blank115' is formed into an open ended truste-conical side wall generallydesignated at 125 in Fig. 29 and the glue pattern 123 on the paper blank115 maintains the paper side wall 125 in formed condition. Because thisinvention forms a transverse bottom from an open ended paper side Wall,the amount of paper necessary in making the paper container of thisinvention is materially less than the amount of paper required to make aconventional conical paper container. This lamount of paper saved is theamount between the concave curved edge 118 and the curved dotted line122 of Fig. 38.

After the frusto-conical open ended side wall 125 is formed the lowerportion thereof is substan-tially radially gathered into an outwardlyprojecting central pillar 127 of closely gathered paper havinglongitudinal pleats, as shown in Fig. 40, the paper between the smoothside wall 161 and the central pillar 127 vbeing substantially radiallypleated. Then, as illustrated in Fig. 4l, the pleated paper iscompressed into the transverse bottom wall 102 and may be provided withthe outwardly facing annular recess or reverse bend 194. The centralpillar 127 of gathered and longitudinally pleated paper is thencircumferentially closely conned and longitudinally cornpressed andupset into the central solid paper button 193 having overlapping andinterlocking transverse pleats, as illustrated in Fig. 42.

While for purposes of illustration several forms of this invention havebeen disclosed, other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilledin the art upon reference to this disclosure and, therefore, thisinvention is to be limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

what we claim -as our invention:

l. The method of making a one piece paper container having `a side walland a transverse bottom Wall from a paper side wall open at its top andbottom comprising, substantially radially gathering the bottom portionof the paper side wall by exerting substantially radial pressure aboutthe entire perimeter thereof and progressively decreasing the perimeterthereof into `a substantially radially pleated transverse bottom Walland `a substantially closed central pillar consisting of closelygathered longitudinal pleats, compressing the substantially radiallypleated paper into the transverse bottom wall, circumferentially closelyconfining the Vclosely gathered longitudinally pleated paper of thesubstantially closed central pillar, and longitudinally compressing andupsetting the closely confined central pillar into a central solid paperbutton.

2. The method of making Ia one piece paper container having a side walland a transverse bottom Wall from a. paper side wall open at its top andbottom comprising, substantially radially gathering the bottom portionof the paper side wall by exerting substantially radial pressure aboutthe entire perimeter thereof and progressively decreasing the perimeterthereof into a substantially radially pleated transverse bottom wall anda substantially closed central pillar consisting of closely gatheredlongitudinal pleats, compressing the substantially radially pleatedpaper into the transverse bottom wall, circumferentially closelyconfining the closely gathered longitudinally pleated paper of thesubstantially closed central pillar, and longitudinally compressing andupsetting the closely gathered longitudinally pleated paper of theclosely confined central pillar into a central solid paper buttonconsisting of randomly interlocked paper pleats.

3. The method of making a nestable one piece paper container having asmooth tapered side wall and a transverse bottom wall at its smaller endfrom a smooth tapered paper side Wall open at its top and bottomcomprising substantially radially gathering the smaller bottom portionof the smooth tapered paper side wall by exerting substantially radialpressure about the entire perimeter thereof `and progressivelydecreasing the perimeter thereof into a substantially radially pleatedtransverse bottom wall and a substantially closed Vcentral pillarconsisting of closely gathered longitudinal pleats, compressing thesubstantially radially pleated paper into the transverse bottom wall,circumferentially closely confining the closely gathered longitudinallypleated paper of the substantially closed central pillar, andlongitudinally compressing and upsetlting the closely confined centralpillar into a central solid paper button.

4. The method of making a one piece paper container having a side walland a transverse bottom wall comprising, forming a paper blank into aside wall open at its top and bottom and having an overlapping seamthroughout its length, substantially radially gathering the bottomportion of the paper side wall by exerting substantially radial pressureabout the entire perimeter thereof and progressively decreasing theperimeter thereof into a substantially radially pleated transversebottom wall having single and multiple paper thicknesses and 4asubstantially closed central pillar consisting of closely gatheredlongitudinal pleats, compressing lthe substantially radially pleatedpaper into the transverse bottom wall, Vcircumferentially closelyconfining the closely gathered longitudinally pleated paper of thesubstantially closed central pillar, and longitudinally compressing landupsetting the closely confined central pillar into a central solid paperbutton.

5. The method of making a nestable one piece paper container having asmooth frusto-conical side Wall and a transverse bottom wall at itssmaller end comprising, forming a paper blank having a convex curvededge with its center of curvature beyond the paper blank, forming thepaper blank into a smooth frusto-conical side Wall open at its top andbottom and with the curved edge of the blank forming the larger top edgeof the side wall and having an overlapping seam throughout its length,substantially radially gathering the smaller bottom portion of thefrusto-conical paper side Wall by exerting substantially radial pressureabout the entire perimeter thereof and progressively decreasing theperimeter thereof into a substantially radially pleated transversebottom Wall having single and multiple paper thicknesses and asubstantiallyclosed central pillar consisting of closely gatheredlongitudinal pleats, compresisng -t-he substantially radially pleatedpaper into the transverse bottom wall, circumferentially closelyconfining the v closely gathered longitudinally pleated paper of thesubstantially closed `Central pillar, and longitudinally ,compressingand upsetting theclosely confined central vrpillar into a central solidpaper button.

6. The method of making a one piece paper container having `a v sidewall and a transverse bottom Wall from a paper-side wall open at its topand bottom comprising, substantially radially gathering the bottomportion .of the paper side Wall by exerting substantially radialpressure about the entire perimeter thereof Vvand progressivelydecreasing the perimeter thereof into a substantially radially pleatedtransverse bottom wall and a substantially closed central pillarconsisting of closely gathered longitudinal pleats, circumferentiallyclosely confining the closely gathered longitudinally pleated paper ofthe substantially closed central pillar, compressing the substantiallyradially pleated paper into the transverse bottom wall and forming anannular offset bend in the transverse bottom wall closely adjacent thesubstantially closed central pillar by tightly confining the same, andlongitudinally compressing and upsetting the closely confined centralpaper pillar, while the substantially radially pleated paper is tightlyconfined, into a central solid paper button which is at least partiallyreceived within the annular offset bend in the transverse bottom wall.

7. The method of making a one piece paper container having a side walland a transverse bottom ywall from a paper side wall open at its top andbottom comprising, substantially radially gathering the bottom portionof the paper side wall by exerting substantially radial pressure aboutthe entire perimeter thereof and progressively decreasing the perimeterthereof into a substantially radially pleated transverse bottom wall anda substantially closed central pillar consisting of closely gatheredlongitudinal pleats, circumferentially closely confining the closelygathered longitudinally pleated paper of the substantially closedcentral pillar in a central opening in a die member having an annularprojection about the opening, clamping the substantially radiallypleated paper between said die member and a second die member having acentral annular recess for compressing the same into a transverse bottomwall having an annular offset bend therein closely adjacent thesubstantially closed central pillar, and longitudinally compressing andupsetting the closely confined central paper pillar by a plungeroperating in the opening in the first die member against the second diemember, while the substantially radially pleated paper is clampedbetween the die members, into a central solid paper button which is atleast partially received within the annular offset bend in thetransverse bottom wall.

8. Apparatus for the manufacture of a one piece paper container having aside wall and a transverse bottom wall from a paper form including anopen ended side wall having a bottom portion thereof substantiallyradially gathered into a substantially radially pleated transversebottom wall and a substantially closed central pillar of closelygathered longitudinal pleats comprising, a first die member having acentral opening of a diameter `substantially equal to the diameter ofthe substantially closed central pillar for receiving andcircumferentially closely confining the same and having a face includingan annular projection about the opening for engaging the side of thesubstantially radially pleated paper having the pillar projectingtherefrom, a second die member having a face including a central annularrecess for engaging the other side of the substantially radially pleatedpaper, means for moving the die members toward each other for clampingthe substantially radially pleated paper therebetween and compressingthe same into a transverse bottom wall having an annular offset bendtherein closely adjacent the substantially closed central paper pillar,a plunger in the opening 0.2 the first die member, .and :means formovingthe plunger toward the second die member, while the substantiallyradially pleated paper is clamped be tween the die members,longitudinally to compress land upset `the closely `confmer ycentralpaper `pillar `into a solid paper button .which is at least partiallyreceived within the annular olset bend in the transverse bottom wall.

9. In the manufacture `of a one piece paper container having va sidewall and atransverse bottom wall, apparatus for making a paper form froman open ended paper lside wall comprising a male diefmember forsupporting lthe open Aended paper side wall with the `bottom portion ofvthe side Wall extending beyond the end of the male die member, agathering die having a plurality 0f circumferentially arranged .andradially movable overlapping ,plates defining a' radially expansible andcontractible enclosed area between kthe .inner edges thereof, means formoving the male die member andthe gathering die toward each other toposition ythe gathering die adjacent the end of the male diememberandentirelyaround the extending bottom portion of the paper sidewall, and means for moving the plates of the gathering die radiallyinwardly to substantially radially gather the extending bottom portionof the paper side wall by exerting substantially radial pressure aboutthe entire perimeter thereof and progressively decreasing the perimeterthereof into a substantially radially pleated transverse bottom and asubstantially closed central pillar consisting of closely gatheredlongitudinal pleats.

l0. Apparatus for the manufacture of a one piece paper container havinga side wall and a transverse bottom wall from an open ended paper sidewall comprising, a first die member for supporting the open ended paperside Wall with the bottom portion of the paper side wall extendingbeyond the end of the die member, a gathering die having a plurality ofcircumferentially arranged and radially movable overlapping platesdefining a radially expansible and contractible enclosed area betweenthe inner edges thereof, means for moving the first die member and thegathering die toward each other to position the gathering die adjacentthe end of the rst die member and entirely around the extending bottomportion of the paper side wall, means for moving the plates of thegathering die radially inwardly to substantially radially gather theextending bottom portion of the paper side wall by exertingsubstantially radial pressure about the entire perimeter thereof andprogressively decreasing the perimeter thereof into a substantiallyradially pleated transverse bottom and a substantially closed centralpillar consisting of closely gathered longitudinal pleats, a second diemember having a central opening of a diameter substantially equal to thediameter of the substantially closed central pillar for receiving andcircumferentially closely confining the same and having a face includingan annular .projection about the opening for engaging the side of thesubstantially radially pleated paper having the pillar projectingtherefrom, said first die member having a face including a centralannular recess for engaging the other side of the substantially radiallypleated paper, means for moving the die members toward each other forclamping the substantially radially pleated paper therebetween andcompressing the same into a transverse bottom wall having an annularoffset bend therein closely adjacent the substantially closed centralpaper pillar, a plunger in the opening of the second die member, andmeans for moving the plunger toward the first die member, while thesubstantially radially pleated paper is clamped between the die members,longitudinally to compress and upset the closely confined central paperpillar into a solid paper button which is at least partially receivedwithin the annular offset bend in the transverse botto-m wall.

1l. A one piece paper container comprising a smooth paper side wall openat its top and having its bottom portion substantially radially gatheredinwardly into a transverse bottom wall provided with substantiallyradial pleats terminating in surplus paper which is closely gatheredinto a longitudinally pleated outwardly projecting pillar which islongitudinally compressed and upset into a solid tying button havingoverlapping and interlocking transverse pleats.

12. A one piece paper container comprising a smooth paper side wall openat its top and having its bottom portion substantially radially gatheredinwardly into a trans- References Cited in the le of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 563,199 Moritz June 30, 1896 16 Chesney Mar. 31,Tietzmann June 23, House July 4, Luellen Nov. 12, Barbieri Jan. 4, Rueet al. Mar. 1, Swallow et a1. Oct. 1, Barbieri Nov. 5, Amberg Dec. 10,Merta Feb. 10, Amberg Apr. 13, Bogoslowsky Nov. 25, Bogoslowsky Apr. 27,Amberg June 21, Amberg Aug. 7,

